Picture courtesy of Monika McGillicuddy, Realtor, New Hampshire
Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2010 – in Rememberance of those who died in our Nation’s Service.
Remember the reason for the season motto and know that this weekend is set aside to remember and honor our fallen men and women. Those who gave EVERYTHING so that you could have ANYTHING!!!
Below Courtesy of http://www.answers.com/topic/memorial-day
Memorial Day (May 30), or Decoration Day, began in 1868 when members of the Grand Army of the Republic heeded the request of their commander, General John A. Logan, to decorate the graves of their fallen compatriots. It has since become the day on which the United States honors the dead of all its wars and is observed as a legal holiday in most states. National services are held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.
In 2000 President Bill Clinton asked the nation to endorse a humanitarian organization’s addition of a moment of silence to the holiday, designating 3 P.M. local time for a minute of quiet reflection on the meaning of America’s war dead.
Below Courtesy of http://www.answers.com/topic/taps-8
Taps is a famous musical piece, sounded by the U.S. military during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet. The tune is also sometimes known as “Butterfield‘s Lullaby“, or by the lyrics of its second verse, “Day is Done“.
Taps (in the key of C)
The bugle call was composed by the Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield, an American Civil War general who commanded the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division in the V Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Butterfield wrote the tune at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, in July 1862. Taps also replaced “Tattoo“, the French bugle call to signal “lights out.” Butterfield’s bugler, Oliver W. Norton, of Erie, Pennsylvania, was the first to sound the new call. Within months, Taps was used by both Union and Confederate forces. Booth states that the tune is actually a variation of an earlier bugle call known as the Scott Tattoo which was used in the U.S. from 1835 until 1860.[1][2][3]
A bugler sounds Taps during the funeral of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger in Arlington National Cemetery.
Taps concludes many military funerals conducted with honors at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as hundreds of others around the United States[4].[citation needed] The tune is also sounded at many memorial services in Arlington’s Memorial Amphitheater and at gravesites throughout the cemetery.
Taps is sounded during each of the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies conducted at the Tomb of the Unknowns every year, including the ones held on Memorial Day. The ceremonies are viewed by many people, including veterans, school groups, and foreign officials. Taps is also sounded nightly in military installations at non-deployed locations to indicate that it is “lights out.” When Taps is sounded at a funeral, it is customary for serving members of the military or veterans to salute. The corresponding gesture for civilians is to place the right hand over the heart.
